U.S. patent number 8,192,303 [Application Number 12/496,087] was granted by the patent office on 2012-06-05 for golf club head.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Wataru Ban.
United States Patent |
8,192,303 |
Ban |
June 5, 2012 |
Golf club head
Abstract
A golf club head of this invention includes a head body, a
weight member attached to the head body, and a fixing unit to fix
the weight member at any one of a plurality of attachment positions
of the head body. The plurality of attachment positions are located
on a straight line included in a plane. The plane includes the
center-of-gravity position of the head body without the weight
member attached thereto and is perpendicular to the toe-and-heel
direction of the head body.
Inventors: |
Ban; Wataru (Saitama,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
(Tokyo, JP)
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Family
ID: |
42038243 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/496,087 |
Filed: |
July 1, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20100075774 A1 |
Mar 25, 2010 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 19, 2008 [JP] |
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2008-241654 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/335;
473/345 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
53/04 (20130101); A63B 60/02 (20151001); A63B
53/0466 (20130101); A63B 2053/0491 (20130101); A63B
2209/00 (20130101); A63B 53/0433 (20200801) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
53/04 (20060101); A63B 53/06 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;473/324-350 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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7-15067 |
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Mar 1995 |
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JP |
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09000667 |
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Jan 1997 |
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JP |
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9028844 |
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Feb 1997 |
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JP |
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10127836 |
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May 1998 |
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JP |
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10263116 |
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Oct 1998 |
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JP |
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11-009742 |
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Jan 1999 |
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JP |
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11009742 |
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Jan 1999 |
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JP |
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2001-137400 |
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May 2001 |
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JP |
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2001149514 |
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Jun 2001 |
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JP |
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2004081241 |
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Mar 2004 |
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JP |
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2006-102235 |
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Apr 2006 |
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JP |
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2006198251 |
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Aug 2006 |
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JP |
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2006198385 |
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Aug 2006 |
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JP |
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3127234 |
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Nov 2006 |
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JP |
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2006320493 |
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Nov 2006 |
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JP |
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2007136068 |
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Jun 2007 |
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JP |
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2007-222257 |
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Sep 2007 |
|
JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Hunter; Alvin
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue Mion, PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hollow golf club head comprising: a hollow head body; a weight
member attached to a sole portion said head body; and fixing means
for fixing said weight member at any one of a plurality of
attachment positions of said sole portion so that a golfer can
change a position of said weight member, wherein the plurality of
attachment positions are located on a straight line included in a
plane, the plane includes a center-of-gravity position of said head
body without said weight member attached thereto and is
perpendicular to a toe-and-heel direction of said head body, said
head further comprises a rail portion which is formed along the
straight line in said sole portion of said head body and defines
the plurality of attachment positions, said fixing means fixes said
weight member at a given position on said rail portion, said head
body comprises an opening in a back-side part thereof, and a
closing member closing the opening, and said closing member
comprises a wall portion to close a back-side end portion to the
rail portion.
2. The head according to claim 1, wherein said closing member is
detachably attached to the opening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club head.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been proposed golf club heads in which golfers can
change the position of a weight member attached to the golf club
head in accordance with their preference. Japanese Patent Laid-Open
Nos. 2001-137400, 2006-102235, and 2007-222257 disclose putter
heads in which the position of the weight member can be changed.
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-15067, Japanese Patent
Laid-Open No. 11-9742, and Japanese Utility Model Registration No.
3127234 disclose wood type golf club heads in which the position of
the weight member can be changed.
When the position of the weight member is changed, the
center-of-gravity position of the golf club head changes. In a wood
type or utility type (hybrid type) golf club head, as the
center-of-gravity position changes, the height or lateral
directionality of flight of a hit ball changes. Users can change
the position of the weight member to obtain their preferred ball
flight.
However, some golfers may want to adjust only the height of ball
flight. If both the height and lateral directionality of flight of
the hit ball change in accordance with a change in position of the
weight member, it is not possible to satisfy such users' needs. In
addition, if a swing feel of a golf club largely changes in
accordance with a change in position of the weight member, players,
particularly those that are advanced, may feel a sense of
discomfort. Therefore, it is preferable that a swing feel of a golf
club does not change as much as possible in accordance with a
change in position of the weight member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club
head in which the position of a weight member can be changed, a
change in lateral directionality of flight of a hit ball and a
change in swing feel of a golf club are reduced, and the height of
flight of the hit ball is adjustable.
According to the present invention, there is provided a golf club
head comprising a head body, a weight member attached to the head
body, and fixing means for fixing the weight member at any one of a
plurality of attachment positions of the head body, wherein the
plurality of attachment positions are located on a straight line
included in a plane, and the plane includes a center-of-gravity
position of the head body without the weight member attached
thereto and is perpendicular to a toe-and-heel direction of the
head body.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from
the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference
to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club head A according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the golf club head A taken along a
plane S in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are views for explaining a face center FC;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a golf club head B according to
another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a golf club head C according to still
another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6A is a sectional view of a golf club head D according to
still another embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along a line X-X in FIG. 6A.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be
described in detail in accordance with the accompanying
drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club head A, and
particularly of a sole portion 13 according to one embodiment of
the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the golf club
head A taken along a plane S in FIG. 1 when seen from the toe side
of the golf club head A.
The golf club head A includes a head body 10 and a weight member
20. The head body 10 is a hollow body, and its circumferential wall
constitutes a face portion 11 forming a golf ball hitting surface,
a crown portion 12 forming the top surface of the golf club head A,
the sole portion 13 forming the bottom surface of the golf club
head A, and a side portion 14 forming the toe-side, heel-side, and
back-side side surfaces of the golf club head A. A hosel portion 15
to which a shaft is to be attached is also provided in the head
body 10.
Although the golf club head A is a golf club head for a driver, the
present invention is applicable to wood type golf club heads
including a fairway wood and the like other than a driver, utility
type (hybrid type) golf club heads, and other hollow golf club
heads. The head body 10 is a hollow body in this embodiment, but it
may be solid.
The head body 10 can be assembled by joining a plurality of parts.
For example, the face portion 11 and the other part can be formed
as different members and joined to form the head body 10. Also, the
face portion 11, the sole portion 13, and the other part can be
formed as different members and joined to form the head body 10.
The head body 10 can be made from e.g., a metal material including
a titanium metal material. The head body 10 can be made from
different materials. For example, it can be made from a metal
material and a carbon fiber material.
A plurality of attachment portions 131a to 131d, which define the
attachment positions of the weight member 20, are formed in the
sole portion 13. Although four attachment portions 131a to 131d are
provided in this embodiment, the number of the attachment portions
is not limited to four. The user of the golf club head A can attach
the weight member 20 to any one of the attachment portions 131a to
131d.
Each of the attachment portions 131a to 131d forms a tube having a
female screw hole SC1. The weight member 20 has an axial male screw
portion SC2. The weight member 20 can be fixed to the head body 10
by threadably engaging the female screw hole SC1 and male screw
portion SC2 to each other.
A washer 30 is a resin member inserted between the weight member 20
and the sole portion 13. The washer 30 serves to prevent loose
threadable engagement between the female screw hole SC1 and male
screw portion SC2, thereby preventing the weight member 20 fixed
once from falling easily. The washer 30 may be integrally provided
in the weight member 20. For example, the washer 30 may be fixed to
the weight member 20 in advance. Also, the surface of the weight
member 20 may be covered with a resin material.
As shown in FIG. 2, of the attachment portions 131a to 131d, the
female screw holes SC1 to which the weight member 20 is not
attached can be closed by attaching caps 40. With this arrangement,
it is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the head
body 10 through the female screw holes SC1. The cap 40 is made
from, e.g., a resin material, and detachably fitted in the female
screw hole SC1. In order to prevent dust and the like from entering
the head body 10 through the female screw holes SC1, instead of
using the caps 40, the female screw holes SC1 may be closed at
their upper ends.
The weight member 20 can be made from, e.g., a metal material. As
such a metal material, for example, tungsten, a tungsten alloy,
aluminum, an aluminum alloy, magnesium, and a magnesium alloy are
available. The weight member 20 may be made by, e.g., mixing a
metal powder with a viscoelastic material. In this case, the
vibration dampening effect of the golf club head A at impact can
improve. As such a viscoelastic material, for example, NBR
(acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber) is available.
The positions of the attachment portions 131a to 131d will be
described next. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a center-of-gravity position CG
represents the center-of-gravity position of the head body 10
without the weight member 20 attached thereto. In FIG. 2, a
center-of-gravity depth ZG indicates the length of a perpendicular
line from the center-of-gravity position CG to the face portion 11,
and represents the center-of-gravity depth when the weight member
20 is not attached. Note that when the face portion 11 does not
form a flat surface but forms an arcuate surface, a virtual plane
touching the face center is used as a reference. FIGS. 3A and 3B
are views for explaining a face center FC.
In FIG. 3A, an angle .theta.1 indicates a lie angle, which is an
angle formed by the ground surface and an axis L2 of a shaft to be
attached to the hosel portion 15. In FIG. 3B, an angle .theta.2
indicates a loft angle, which is an angle formed by the face
portion 11 and the ground surface. In FIG. 3A, a line L3 is a line
which passes the center line in the toe-and-heel direction of the
portion touching the ground surface, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the
head body 10 touches the ground surface with its defined lie angle
and loft angle. Positions P1 and P2 indicate the upper end and
lower end, respectively, of the face portion 11 at which the face
portion 11 intersects the line L3. The position at which a height
difference H between the positions P1 and P2 is halved is defined
as the face center FC.
Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the positions of the attachment
portions 131a to 131d will be further described. In FIG. 1, the
plane S is a virtual plane that includes the center-of-gravity
position CG of the head body 10 and is perpendicular to a
toe-and-heel direction D1 of the head body 10. In this embodiment,
the toe-and-heel direction D1 is a direction parallel to the face
portion 11. When the face portion 11 does not form a flat surface
but forms an arcuate surface, the virtual plane that touches the
face center FC described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B is used
as a reference. The attachment portions 131a to 131d are located on
a straight line L1 included in the plane S.
The effect obtained by arranging the attachment portions 131a to
131d on the straight line L1 will be described next. When the
weight member 20 is fixed to any one of the attachment portions
131a to 131d, the center-of-gravity position and center-of-gravity
depth of the golf club head A change accordingly.
For example, when the weight member 20 is attached to the
attachment portion 131a, the center-of-gravity position of the golf
club head A moves toward the face portion 11 side from the
center-of-gravity position CG of the head body 10, and the
center-of-gravity depth of the golf club head A becomes smaller
than the center-of-gravity depth ZG of the head body 10. When the
center-of-gravity depth becomes smaller, the flight of hit ball
becomes relatively low. On the other hand, when the weight member
20 is attached to the attachment portion 131d, the
center-of-gravity position of the golf club head A moves toward the
back side from the center-of-gravity position CG of the head body
10, and the center-of-gravity depth of the golf club head A becomes
larger than the center-of-gravity depth ZG of the head body 10.
When the center-of-gravity depth becomes larger, the flight of hit
ball becomes relatively high.
As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to adjust
the height of flight of a hit ball by selecting the attachment
portions 131a to 131d used to fix the weight member 20. It is
preferable that the height difference between the flights of hit
ball becomes as large as possible by selecting the attachment
portions 131a to 131d used to fix the weight member 20. Therefore,
the change amount of center-of-gravity depth of the golf club head
A caused by the difference between the attachment portions 131a to
131d used to fix the weight member 20, for example, the difference
in center-of-gravity depth between a case in which the weight
member 20 is attached to the attachment portion 131a and a case in
which the weight member 20 is attached to the attachment portion
131d, is preferably 3 mm or more.
Since the attachment portions 131a to 131d are located on the
straight line L1 that is perpendicular to the toe-and-heel
direction of the head body 10, regardless of the attachment
portions 131a to 131d used to fix the weight member 20, the
center-of-gravity position of the golf club head A hardly moves in
the toe-and-heel direction. Therefore, the lateral directionality
of flight of a hit ball hardly changes, and hence it is possible to
adjust only the height of flight of a hit ball.
Advanced players have a sharp sense for golf clubs. Accordingly,
the farther the attachment position of the weight member 20 is from
the center-of-gravity position CG of the head body 10, the more
readily the advanced players may recognize the presence of the
weight member 20 and feel a sense of discomfort for the swing feel
of a golf club. Particularly, the farther the attachment position
of the weight member 20 is from the center-of-gravity position CG
of the head body 10 in the toe-and-heel direction, the more easily
the presence of the weight member 20 is recognized. This is because
the face rotation characteristic of the golf club head A largely
changes. On the other hand, when the attachment position of the
weight member 20 is spaced apart from the center-of-gravity
position CG of the head body 10 in the face-and-back direction, the
face rotation characteristic of the golf club head A does not
change much, and the presence of the weight member 20 is less
pronounced.
In this embodiment, the attachment portions 131a to 131d are
located on the straight line L1, that is perpendicular to the
toe-and-heel direction of the head body 10 and included in the
plane S including the center-of-gravity position CG of the head
body 10, the swing feel of a golf club becomes smaller, and
therefore it is possible to reduce discomfort felt by advanced
players.
Note that although the one weight member 20 is used in this
embodiment, one of a plurality of weight members 20 having
different weights may be selectively fixed to the head body 10.
With this arrangement, it becomes possible to widen the selection
range of center-of-gravity position and center-of-gravity depth of
the golf club head A and to increase their choices as well. In this
case, the two or more weight members 20 may simultaneously be fixed
to the head body 10.
<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a golf club head B according to
another embodiment of the present invention, taken along the same
plane as in the sectional view of FIG. 2. The same components as in
the golf club head A of the above-described first embodiment are
denoted by the same reference numerals below, and a description
thereof will not be repeated. Only components different from those
of the golf club head A will be described.
In this embodiment, recesses 132a to 132d to accommodate a weight
member 20 are provided in attachment portions 131a to 131d,
respectively. The depth of each of the recesses 132a to 132d is set
such that the lowest portion of the weight member 20 fixed to a
head body 10 is positioned above the lowest portion of a sole
portion 13.
With this arrangement, as shown in FIG. 4, the weight member 20
does not project from the sole portion 13. Accordingly, it is
possible to prevent the weight member 20 from catching the ground
upon hitting a ball.
<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a golf club head C according to still
another embodiment of the present invention, taken along the same
plane as in the sectional view of FIG. 2. The same components as in
the golf club head A of the above-described first embodiment are
denoted by the same reference numerals below, and a description
thereof will not be repeated. Only components different from those
of the golf club head A will be described.
In this embodiment, axial male screw portions SC3 are provided in
respective attachment portions 131a to 131d, and a female screw
hole SC4 which threadably engages with the male screw portion SC3
is provided in a weight member 20. Each of the attachment portions
131a to 131d also has an internal space to accommodate the weight
member 20, so the weight member 20 does not project from a sole
portion 13, as in the above-described second embodiment.
In this manner, the screw portion on the sole portion 13 side and
that on the weight member 20 side may be a male screw and female
screw, respectively, and vice versa.
<Fourth Embodiment>
In the above-described first to third embodiments, the weight
member 20 can be fixed at a plurality of positions on the straight
line L1 spaced apart from each other. However, the weight member 20
may be fixable at a give position on the straight line L1. With
this arrangement, it is possible to more finely adjust the
center-of-gravity position and center-of-gravity weight of the golf
club head.
FIG. 6A is a sectional view of a golf club head D according to
still another embodiment of the present invention, taken long the
same plane as in the sectional view of FIG. 2. FIG. 6B is a
sectional view taken along a line X-X in FIG. 6A, and shows a state
in which a weight member 20 is detached. The same components as in
the golf club head A of the above-described first embodiment are
denoted by the same reference numerals below, and a description
thereof will not be repeated. Only components different from those
of the golf club head A will be described.
A rail portion 50 extending along the above-described line L1 is
formed in a sole portion 13 of a head body 10 of the golf club head
D. The rail portion 50 guides the weight member 20 to move in the
direction of an arrow D2, as will be described below. The arrow D2
indicates the same direction as the straight line L1.
The rail portion 50 includes a groove 51 formed by recessing the
sole portion 13 and open at its lower part, and a partitioned
chamber 52 formed in the upper portion of the groove 51. Both the
groove 51 and partitioned chamber 52 are formed along the
above-described straight line L1.
The groove 51 has a pair of side walls 13a and a pair of
partitioning portions 13b formed by bending the side walls 13a. The
partitioning portions 13b are located between the groove 51 and
partitioned chamber 52, thereby vertically partitioning them. The
pair of the partitioning portions 13b are spaced apart from each
other to form a slit 53. The groove 51 accommodates the weight
member 20. The depth of the groove 51 is set such that the lowest
portion of the weight member 20 fixed to the head body 10 is
positioned above the lowest portion of the sole portion 13. With
this arrangement, the weight member 20 does not project from the
sole portion 13, and therefore it is possible to prevent the weight
member 20 from catching the ground upon hitting a ball.
The partitioned chamber 52 is formed by joining the lower ends of a
lid member 54 having a U-shaped cross section to the partitioning
portions 13b. The upper part of the partitioned chamber 52 is
closed by the lid member 54.
The partitioned chamber 52 accommodates a slide member 55. The
slide member 55 is sized such that it cannot rotate in the
partitioned chamber 52 and, for example, has a square shape when
viewed from the above. An axial male screw portion SC5 that passes
the slit 53 is integrally connected to the slide member 55. A
female screw hole SC6 which threadably engages with the male screw
portion SC5 is formed in the weight member 20. The width of the
weight member 20 is larger than that of the slit 53 in the lateral
direction.
A back-side part of a side portion 14 forms an opening, and a
closing member 141 is fixed thereto. Upon assembling the head body
10, after the slide member 55 is inserted into the partitioned
chamber 52 from the above-described opening, the closing member 141
is secured to the head body 10 to close the opening. The closing
member 141 has a wall portion 141a to close the back-side end
portion of the rail portion 50. The closing member 141 may be
detachable from the head body 10. In this case, it becomes possible
to exchange the slide member 55. The end portion of the rail
portion 50 on a face portion 11 side is closed by a wall portion
16, which is formed by bending a part of the head body 10, and a
part of the lid member 54.
In the golf club head D with the above-described components, when
the male screw portion SC5 threadably engages with the female screw
hole SC6, the slide member 55 and weight member 20 sandwich the
partitioning portions 13b, thereby fixing the weight member 20 to
the head body 10. A washer 30 inserted between the partitioning
portions 13b and weight member 20 prevents the loose threadable
engagement between the male screw portion SC5 and female screw hole
SC6.
When changing the position of the weight member 20, the threadable
engagement between the male screw portion SC5 and female screw hole
SC6 is loosened, and the slide member 55 and weight member 20 are
moved in the direction of the arrow D2. Since these members are
guided by the rail portion 50 during movement, their positions can
be easily changed. By threadably engaging the male screw portion
SC5 with the female screw hole SC6 at a desired position, the
weight member 20 can be fixed.
As described above, in this embodiment, the weight member 20 can be
fixed at a given position on the straight line L1, and therefore it
is possible to more finely adjust the center-of-gravity position
and center-of-gravity depth of the golf club head D. Note that in
this embodiment, the center-of-gravity position of the head body 10
is defined as a center-of-gravity position CG of the head body 10
without the weight member 20 and slide member 55. Also, in this
embodiment, since the weight member 20 can be completely detached
from the slide member 55, one of a plurality of the weight members
20 having different weights may be selectively fixed to the head
body 10.
In this embodiment, since the rail portion 50 is enclosed by the
wall portions 141a and 16 and lid member 54, it is possible to
prevent dust and the like from entering the head body 10 through
the rail portion 50.
Note that the structure of the rail portion 50 is not limited to
that shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, and any structure can be used as
long as the weight member 20 can be moved and fixed at a given
position.
While the present invention has been described with reference to
exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of
the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation
so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures
and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application
No. 2008-241654, filed Sep. 19, 2008, which is hereby incorporated
by reference herein in its entirety.
* * * * *